Be extra careful! Posting at internet sites: protect your identity

SmilingBluEyes · May 31, 2010

thank you for the timely and wise advice.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · May 31, 2010

At least two people have been able to put two-and-two together to come up with my identity due to information that I have posted on these forums. One was a former coworker from several years ago and the other was a former classmate from only a few months ago. They read my posts and knew it was me. Thank goodness that I had always gotten along civilly with these people.

Although we can never be too careful, it pays to be nice during your encounters with others.

lkwashington · May 31, 2010

I totally agree with you all. I am not going to repeat anything I have posted on other forums about Facebook. You never know who wants your job or know somebody who wants it and need one. Some people are nonchalant about what they post. You have to live to learn. Sometimes some need to find out the hard way to understand a point. I tell you this you dont have to tell me twice.

Katie5 · May 31, 2010

Yes, one has to be very cautious- I have posters on here that I figured out but would NEVER divulge.A clue is this, if something happens at your hospital, please don't gripe/write about it on the same day it happened~!

Tait, MSN, RN · May 31, 2010

As with anything on the internet, everything your write is potentially public!

Always good to have this subject pop up every now and then.

Tait

Linglingqi · May 31, 2010

In light of recent discussions around here regarding privacy, I don't think I can stress enough to keep identifying information (especially here on allnurses) to a minimum!!!
I recently discovered and figured out one of the members on here that I know in real life based on info she gave out on her facebook and info she gave out on here. (I was able to put two and two together) I have not mentioned it to any of my friends, I have not mentioned it to her. (Nor will I ever)
Yikes!
Trust no one! It's a dog eat dog world, you never know who is secretly jealous or grudging you, they can easily use info against you.
".....anything you say can and will be held against you..."
Be careful guys!

Isn't that the problem with nursing today? I agree with you. But the fact that we--professional nurses--must have these worries...isn't that a problem?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 31, 2010

At least two people have been able to put two-and-two together to come up with my identity due to information that I have posted on these forums. One was a former coworker from several years ago and the other was a former classmate from only a few months ago. They read my posts and knew it was me. Thank goodness that I had always gotten along civilly with these people.
Although we can never be too careful, it pays to be nice during your encounters with others.

Despite being very prudent about posting, I'm sure some have put two-and-two together with me as well...but I'll never confirm or deny who I am here, so all they can do is keep wondering if it's really me.

It never hurts to be smart. Remember that once something is out on the internet, it can be nearly impossible to take back or remove.

CrazierThanYou · May 31, 2010

Hmmm, I wrote a long vent the other day then deleted it because I was worried someone might be able to figure out who wrote it. I guess that was a legitimate concern!

CuriousMe · May 31, 2010

While I don't post my personal information here, there's nothing I've said here that I wouldn't say face-to-face. So, I'm not overly concerned if someone finds out my true identity.

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · May 31, 2010

Trust no one! It's a dog eat dog world, you never know who is secretly jealous or grudging you, they can easily use info against you.

".....anything you say can and will be held against you..."

Be careful guys!

I think this is fear mongering.

TDCHIM · May 31, 2010

Trust no one! It's a dog eat dog world, you never know who is secretly jealous or grudging you, they can easily use info against you.

".....anything you say can and will be held against you..."

Be careful guys!
I think this is fear mongering.

I have to disagree. Plenty of employers will go after an employee who posts something about his/her workplace, even if what the employee said isn't derogatory. Perhaps I might come on here and ask for advice for how to deal with a situation with a coworker. That isn't in any way criticizing the place of employment, but if my identity on allnurses.com has been identified by someone from my department, HR, or management (which isn't exactly uncommon, judging by earlier posts), you can bet I'd be ripped for it at work and my future posts under that ID monitored. It's ridiculous, and eventually there are going to be legal clashes over how much control employers have over their employees' off-hours comments regarding work, but for now, it's hardly fear-mongering to warn people to be careful of the comments they make. I doubt there are many people on this forum dying to be the basis of a test case for the courts!